Cathy Yan to Direct Next ‘Harley Quinn’ Film!

Suicide Squad may have been a disappointment, but it gave us the birth of Margot Robbie‘s Harley Quinn, one of the most fun and polarizing characters in the disheveled DC universe. She was so popular that it even pushed Warner Bros. to shoot additional sequences with the character that was then added to the fragmented Suicide Squad. Whether it was the casting of Jared Leto or not, Quinn was even more popular than Joker.

With that, it’s no surprise that Warners is moving forward with their next Harley Quinn project, and has tapped Cathy Yan to direct, says Variety. The film will be based on the “Birds of Prey” comic with Margot Robbie attached to star.

Added Deadline:

Yan got the job over numerous well established male directors, and because she is taking this giant leap with just one small-budget indie movie under her belt. That would be Dead Pigs, a film that won the World Cinema Dramatic Award For Ensemble Acting at Sundance last January. Despite being a new talent, Yan’s presentation for Birds of Prey was exceptional, and Robbie held firm to her desire for this film to be directed by a woman.

Robbie’s LuckyChap is producing with Sue Kroll and her Kroll & Co Entertainment, along with Bryan Unkeless of Clubhouse Pictures.

Christina Hodson, who was recently tapped to pen the Batgirl pic, wrote the script.

The studio had been weighing several Quinn options, including a Suicide Squad sequel with Gavin O’Connor, before picking “Birds of Prey.” Sources add that script is still being worked on, but Yan is likely to take over directing reigns once script is done being worked on.

Production is expected to start at the end of the year after Robbie finishes shooting Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon Time in Hollywood, which she is currently in negotiations to play Sharon Tate in.

Co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, the V/H/S trilogy, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily.